COVID – 19 Community Update

March 27, 2020

Dear Muskeg Lake Residents & Members,

As of today, Friday, March 27, 2020, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation leadership have enacted a state of emergency for our community. We are doing this to protect our members and residents from COVID-19 entering our homes and lands.

I want to assure you there are no cases of COVID-19 in our community at this time. We are acting proactively now, before the virus reaches our community in hopes of preventing it from spreading in our community.

All non-essential services have ceased. As you are aware, kihiw School has been shut since March 20, 2020. Essential services, like health, will continue to operate.

We have a pandemic coordinator, Jordan Rekve , who has been reaching out (many of you have probably already received calls) with his team to ensure that members and residents have sufficient food, to identify any underlying illnesses and to assist with any questions you might have. Our pandemic coordinator can be reached at (306)290-7353.

As a result of the state of emergency, we ask that you only leave the community for essential needs only. This is to protect health and safety of our people, especially those that may be vulnerable such as our Elders.

Earlier this week, we set up road checkpoints in order to limit nonessential travel and monitor incoming visitors and residents for indications of exposure to COVID-19. The checkpoints will be monitored by staff, who will ask questions that are deemed related to the potentiaI passing of COVID-19.

As leadership, we are confident in our members and residents will adhere to our state of emergency and ask that no gatherings take place and you follow safety and health guidelines in your home.

Everyone has a role in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Please follow the advice of public health officials by:

* frequently wash your hands with soap and water,* physically distance yourself from others,* cancel all non-essential travel* cancel all in-person gatherings and social functions* stay home if you are sick or exposed to those who are,* avoid touching your face, and;* cough and sneeze into the bend of your arm

Should you feel sick, please call 811 immediately.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS:

MLCN Pandemic Coordinator – 306-290-7353

Saskatchewan Public Health: 811

MLCN Health Centre: 306-466-4914

Emergency Response: 911

We know this is a time of uncertainty and change. We will be communicating with members regularly about how we can tackle the challenges of COVID-19 together. We are in this together and together we will face it.